Blank

Tag Archives | Italian

I got a chance to check out the Roadster Shop’s C1-RS Corvette this past weekend at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals, and was AMAZED by the level of detail in this award winning street machine. (Street Machine of the Year to be exact.)

Under the hood lies a 618 horsepower LS7 with a T-56 transmission that does its best to transfer all 640ft lbs of torque, while Detroit Speed & Engineering suspension keeps the tires planted and 14” Brembos bring everything to a stop.

Outside, the ‘vette features carbon fiber side louvers, a front end that was entirely customized out of aluminum (including all grills, grille surrounds, front bumper and grille bar) and a rear end with enough carbon fiber to make an F1 team jealous.

Novitec is known for making badbeasts out of Italian stallions, but now they’ve set their sights a little higher, and intend on releasing a semi-custom car (or eleven) of their very own to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Called the TuLesto, it’s based loosely on the Ferrari F430, though just about everything on the car has been poked and prodded into a new, and some would argue sexier shape.

Two superchargers give the carbon fiber creation a healthy 777 horsepower out of the 4.4-liter V8, and 60 happens 3.4 seconds after pressing the go pedal on the way to a top speed of more than 217 mph.

What do you get when you combine the potent potential of the Corvette ZR1 with an Italian coachbuilder that gave shape to automotive legends like the Pininfarina P4/5?

You get the Mantide, an unfortunately named custom from Stile Bertone and head builder Jason Castriota. The Mantide is a carbon fiber creation that takes 220 lbs off the already svelte ZR1, giving the resulting car a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 217mph. Inside, outside, underneath and all around you’ll find custom touches that set the Mantide apart from just about any other car on the planet, and you better, considering they want $2 million from you if you’re going to be one of the lucky ten to own one.

But hey, look on the bright side: At least it won’t get confused for a Prius!

Ferrari’s 599 GTB Fiorano is already a potent pony, so when the Italians decided to put their stallion through the XX program (which was responsible for cars like the Enzo FXX and the FXX Evoluzione) the ears of millionaires around the world definitely perked up.

The end result of Ferrari’s poking, prodding, tuning and trimming is called the 599XX, and it’s the fastest road car they’ve ever produced. (Though calling this a road car is a bit of a stretch.)

The ‘extreme track car’ bumps power to 700 hp at 9,000 rpm, and uses carbon fiber wherever possible to bring the weight down while increasing aerodynamic downforce. Other neat goodies include F1 style ‘doughnuts’ over the brake discs that improve aerodynamics and brake cooling, carbon fiber brake pads, and a whole host of active aerodynamic components they call the ‘ActiflowT’ system.

Like previous XX cars, the 599XX will be invitation only, so if you don’t already have a few Ferraris parked outside, this won’t be the next addition, but for the select few, Ferrari has created a car that will more than likely defy belief.

Antoinette J. Citizen created art that just about anyone that grew up during the Nintendo Era can appreciate: A working Level 1-1 Super Mario Bros. room complete with interactive question mark boxes and bricks that featured actual Mario sound effects.

Sadly, just being in the room did not give you an Italian brother, allow you to spit fireballs, or kill turtles by jumping on them (though I guess that last one is always possible) but it probably would make you feel pretty super.